Noynoy delays announcement of 2010 poll plans

The public and his supporters would have to wait a little longer: Senator Benigno "Noynoy" Aquino III said Tuesday he would announce his decision on a possible 2010 presidential bid next week yet. "Within a week by tomorrow [Wednesday], I’ll come up with a public statement to announce my decision. Tomorrow is the 40th day (of the death of his mother President Corazon Aquino). A week from that time, barring any unforeseen circumstances," Aquino told Senate reporters in a chance interview. Mrs. Aquino died on August 1 after battling colon cancer for over a year. The senator said he is just finishing some of his earlier commitments with other groups, such as talking with certain political leaders, and with his sisters. He is set to talk with former President Joseph Estrada, Makati Mayor Jejomar Binay and Manila Mayor Alfredo Lim. "I want to make it as easy for all those who are supporting me especially my family whom I know have been as stressed as I have been [or] maybe even more," Aquino said. He added: "Let me just finish all of the things so that wala naman akong bibitawang salita na babawiin ko. Ang sabi ng tatay ko pag binitawan mo, mahirap o madali, panindigan mo." (Let me just finish all of the things so that I won't say something now that I'll later withdraw. My father told me, "If you give your word, you stand by it however difficult.") Aquino, the only son of Mrs. Aquino and the late former Senator Benigno "Ninoy" Aquino Jr., said he is also waiting for a position paper from a group of lawyers whom he asked to help study the problems of the justice system in the country. "Gusto ko 'yung (I want) things that you want to do, you have to concretize that these are in fact doable and all it lacks is the correct political will," Aquino said. The senator said he had a talk with two of his sisters Monday about certain "mechanics," which he did not clarify. He also received a text message from his sister Victoria Eliza "Viel" A. Dee, who seemed the most vehemently opposed to his presidential bid. "She did say that if it is my discernment, although she is still hoping for a miracle that there is somebody else but if not, I have her wholehearted support," Aquino said. He said his sisters are not eager about his possible candidacy, but at the same time, "they see that there is clamor and there is an obligation. They leave it up to me. If I do so decide, I think I can count on all of them." Asked if his recent spiritual retreat helped him decide, the senator said the silence inside the monastery and his talk with one Sister Agnes cleared his mind. "Ang laking difference. Pagbukas ko ng telepono yung mga text na nakakadagdag sa ingay at sa gulo, pagkatapos ng retreat pati iyon ay nalinawan," Aquino said. (It spelled a big difference. When I opened my phone and read the text messages that had added to the noise and racket, even those became clear to me after the retreat.) He added that his talk with his sisters and people he met in his trips to Davao and Zamboanga and the people on the street who have been asking him to run also helped in his decision making. Mar as running mate The senator also said that if he decides to run, he will get Senator Manuel Roxas II as his running mate. "In our discussions, I did broach the idea that if my discernment says to accept this, I really would be very comfortable with Sen Roxas. In fact, a lot of the platforms we have in common, he is the one who has been articulating it," Aquino said. He also dismissed those who have been belittling their tandem. "Their criticisms will not stand the test of scrutiny. The mere fact that they are commenting on us indicates that they take us very seriously. Kung kami ay napakadaling kalaban e hindi na siguro kami pinapansin. Hindi ganito yung publicity namin. (If we were a weak rival, we would no longer be paid any attention. That isn't how we do publicity.) So again, my only response is thank you to all of them." Last week, Roxas gave way to Aquino to be the standard bearer of the Liberal Party in the upcoming 2010 polls. The decision was painful for Roxas since he had long been groomed to carry the party's torch in the presidential polls. [See: Mar gives way to Noynoy as Liberal Party standard bearer] But instead of accepting the challenge to lead the LP in 2010, Aquino told a news conference on September 2 that he was going on a spiritual retreat before making any decision. [ See: Noynoy to go on 'retreat' before baring 2010 plans] Earlier in the day, several groups from both the public and private sectors formed a "reform coalition" supporting the possible presidential bid of Aquino. The coalition called itself Noynoy Para sa Pilipinas (Noypi). "We formed this group to give him strength and support. We are here to make sure his candidacy remains with the public and their clamor for genuine change and political reforms," said singer Jim Paredes, the group’s spokesperson. [See: Coalition formed to back Noynoy’s presidential bid] - GMANews.TV